Find out how popular the last name Persons is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Persons.

Persons, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Persons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Persons in America

Persons is the 9064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Persons surname appeared 3,606 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Persons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Persons to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Persons

The surname Persons is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "persone," which referred to a person or individual, often used in reference to a member of the clergy or a person of importance.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a William Persone is mentioned. This record suggests that the name was already in use as a surname by the late 13th century.

Another early record of the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a John Persone. This document provides evidence of the surname's presence in the county of Yorkshire during the late 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name Persons can be found in various records, including the Register of the Freemen of the City of York from 1458, where a Richard Persons is listed. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname had established themselves in the city of York by the mid-15th century.

One notable figure with the surname Persons was Robert Persons (1546-1610), an English Jesuit priest and controversial writer who played a significant role in the Catholic missionary efforts in England during the Elizabethan era.

Another individual of historical significance was John Persons (1572-1636), an English writer and translator who is best known for his English translation of the works of the Italian philosopher and courtier, Baldassare Castiglione.

In the 17th century, the surname Persons appears in the records of several English colonies in North America. For example, a John Persons is listed among the early settlers of Virginia in 1623, suggesting that individuals with this surname had begun to migrate to the New World during this period.

A notable figure from the 18th century with the surname Persons was William Persons (1742-1826), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and as a representative in the United States Congress.

In the 19th century, the name Persons can be found in various records and documents across different regions of the United States, indicating its widespread adoption and distribution throughout the country.

While the surname Persons has evolved over time and may have had various spellings and regional variations, it remains a testament to its English origins and the historical significance of individuals who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Persons

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Persons.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Persons was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Persons has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Persons was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Persons, please contact us.

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